“She was so glorious in the first movie and has so much affection for Mamma Mia! So, she was always a part of a conversation of another film.

“I think for her, it was a matter of what and how, and we also did chat occasionally about it. It was a matter of the right script.

“Also, Meryl likes to conquer new things, and she had played Donna Sheridan and been singing nine or so ABBA songs in the first movie. I think she felt that she liked the idea of leaving this to the younger ones and she wanted to be involved, but she wasn't gonna take on such a big role.”

“So, I think that helped explore the emotional heft of what [director and co-writer] Ol Parker wrote in the fact that it's a story of life and marriage and loss and love, but also it's very important to Meryl what song she does.

The many faces of Meryl Streep

Wed, June 22, 2016

Considered to be one of the greatest actresses of our time, Meryl Streep has risen as a great character actress.Performing in comedies, dramas, period pieces, and even musicals, she’s proven herself to be one of the most versatile actresses of all time.

“If she was gonna sing, My Love, My Life is a very, very strong song like The Winner Takes It All. It's a huge storytelling song, it's got a big emotional punch and, of course, she has this incredible voice.

“So, I think there were many decisions there, but it came very much from Meryl being a part of all of them.”

Parker himself had previously indicated that Streep’s low screen-time was not a matter of her having too busy a schedule.

Streep sings My Love My Life in the film (Image: STUDIO)

Mamma Mia cast - then and now

Sun, July 15, 2018

As Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again hits cinemas, how have the cast changed in the ten years since the original?